Abstract: Object is to mass-produce a sweetener containing D-allulose and having a sweetness degree and taste quality very close to those of sugar at a world scale and at a low cost with price competitiveness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cytokine production suppressing composition containing D-allose as an active component. The present invention further provides a method of treating or preventing diseases associated with cytokine overproduction in a subject, said method involving dosing the subject with the cytokine production suppressing composition containing D-allose as an active component.

Abstract: A highly safe and highly heat-resistant L-rhamnose isomerase usable in the food industry and the production thereof are disclosed. The L-rhamnose isomerase is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter, has a subunit molecular mass of 47 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE, and has the following substrate specificities (A) isomerase activity that recognizes and reacts with a CHO group at C1 and an OH group at C2 of an aldose to convert the CHO group at C1 into an OH group and the OH group at C2 into a CO group, or recognizes and reacts with an OH group at C1 and a CO group at C2 of a ketose to convert the OH group at C1 into a CHO group and the CO group at C2 into an OH group; and (B) reactivity with L-rhamnose, L-lyxose, L-mannose, D-allose, D-ribose, and L-talose.

Abstract: A D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose includes D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for treating or preventing renal cell cancer, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, D-allose and/or a derivative thereof and/or a mixture thereof, and being characterized by being administered through the intestinal tract (for example, oral administration). Moreover, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing renal cell cancer in a subject, the method comprising administering a composition, which is for treating or preventing renal cell cancer and contains D-allose as an active ingredient, to a subject in need thereof through the intestinal tract (for example, oral administration).

Abstract: Provided is a pharmaceutical composition that is for prevention or treatment of urinary tract organ cancer, causes no adverse side effects, can be continuously used for a long time, and is administered to the urinary tract organ by injection into the urinary tract organ cavity. A solution for injection into the urinary tract organ cavity contains D-allose. The inside of the urinary tract organ cavity is the inside of the upper urinary tract and the inside of the bladder. The solution is for injection therapy into the urinary tract organ cavity. The solution uses enhancement of sugar uptake into cancer cells of the urinary tract organ (for example, RT112, 253J, J82) by D-allose. The solution contains D-allose together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. The solution is a pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of urinary tract organ cancer.

Abstract: Provided is an improved glucose-containing peritoneal dialysate, an ophthalmic composition, or an infusion that can suppress a blood glucose level increase even when used in a long-term treatment and can also suppress an infectious disease, by only addition. A D-glucose-containing osmotic pressure regulator includes D-allose and/or D-allulose as an additive for suppressing a blood glucose level increase by continuous absorption of glucose into the body and for suppressing an infectious disease. The osmotic pressure regulator is used as a mixture with a peritoneal dialysate, an ophthalmic composition, or an infusion. A peritoneal dialysis method for suppressing a blood glucose level increase by continuous absorption of glucose into the body through peritoneal dialysis and for suppressing an infectious disease uses a dialysate containing D-allose and/or D-allulose in an effective amount.

Abstract: To provide a composition for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and a composition or a method for enhancing the uptake of a drug into renal cell carcinoma cells. Provided are a D-allose-containing composition for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma, and a D-allose-containing composition or method for enhancing the uptake of a drug into renal cell carcinoma cells. The composition is a pharmaceutical composition to be administered in an effective amount to patients requiring the treatment of renal cell carcinoma in humans or animals other than humans.

Abstract: To provide a ketose 3-epimerase that can be used in the food industry and is highly safe, highly active, and heat resistant, a microorganism that produces this enzyme, and a method of producing a ketose. The present invention provides a ketose 3-epimerase that can be obtained from a microorganism belonging to the genus Arthrobacter, has a molecular mass of about 36 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE, and has the following substrate specificities (A) and (B): (A) having an activity of epimerizing position 3 of a D- or L-ketose and preparing a D- or L-ketose corresponding thereto, and (B) having the highest epimerization activity on position 3 of D-allulose, among D- or L-ketohexoses.

Abstract: To provide a brown and beige adipocyte activating agent and a brown and beige adipocyte activating food, each containing D-allulose as an active ingredient. Provided are a brown and beige adipocyte activating agent containing D-allulose as an active ingredient; a brown and beige adipocyte activating agent containing at least D-allulose and having a UCP-1 expression promoting action; a brown and beige adipocyte activating agent which enhances UCP-1 expression and thereby activates brown and beige adipocytes; an energy consumption promoting agent containing D-allulose as an active ingredient; an energy consumption promoting agent which activates brown and beige adipocytes and thereby promotes energy consumption; a UCP-1 expression enhancing agent containing D-allulose as an active ingredient; and a composition or food composition containing these agents.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a rare sugar-containing composition having improved properties as a sweetener while maintaining the excellent functionality of D-psicose. The invention relates to a method of producing a rare-sugar containing composition with D-fructose as a raw material. An intended product having a novel composition of D-glucose, D-fructose, and D-psicose is obtained by preparing a mixture of D-fructose and D-psicose by using ketose 3-epimerase in the first stage and converting D-fructose into D-glucose by using D-xylose isomerase inert to D-psicose in the second stage. The first-stage product is a mixture of D-fructose and rare sugar D-psicose. The resulting mixture is a sweetener having a taste quality equal to that of sugar.

Abstract: A D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose includes D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: Providing a D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, comprising D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least one monosaccharide selected from D-tagatose, D-allose, D-psicose, D-talose, D-sorbose, D-galactose, Lfructose, D-mannose and D-mannitol as an active ingredient and multiple surfactants selected from an anionic surfactant selected from aryl sulfonates, formalin condensates of aryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonates, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfonates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfosuccinic acid half esters, alkyl sulfates, sulfosuccinates, polyoxyalkylene aryl ether sulfates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer sulfates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether acetates, polyoxyalkylene aryl ether phosphates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer phosphates, alkyl phosphate esters, methyl taurates, polycarboxylates and fatty acid salts, wherein the anionic surfactants are at a blending ratio of 0.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least one monosaccharide selected from D-tagatose, D-allose, D-psicose, D-talose, D-sorbose, D-galactose, Lfructose, D-mannose and D-mannitol as an active ingredient and multiple surfactants selected from an anionic surfactant selected from aryl sulfonates, formalin condensates of aryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonates, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfonates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfosuccinic acid half esters, alkyl sulfates, sulfosuccinates, polyoxyalkylene aryl ether sulfates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer sulfates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether acetates, polyoxyalkylene aryl ether phosphates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer phosphates, alkyl phosphate esters, methyl taurates, polycarboxylates and fatty acid salts, wherein the anionic surfactants are at a blending ratio of 0.

Abstract: There are provided a highly safe epimerase usable in food industry, and a method for producing a ketose. The epimerase is a ketose 3-epimerase obtainable from a microorganism of the genus Arthrobacter, and having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 of the Sequence Listing, and (1) substrate specificity whereby a D- or L-ketose is epimerized at position 3 to produce a corresponding D- or L-ketose, and (2) the highest substrate specificity for D-fructose and D-psicose among D- and L-ketoses. The ketose 3-epimerase is also represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4 of the Sequence Listing, and epimerizes a D- or L-ketose at position 3 to produce a corresponding D- or L-ketose.

Abstract: Provided is a composition that enhances the effects of monosaccharides. The composition is a composition comprising a monosaccharide as an active ingredient thereof and comprising at least one or more assistants selected from a nonionic surfactant (excluding acetylene glycol-based surfactants, fluorine-based surfactants and silicone-based surfactants), an anionic surfactant (excluding lignin sulfonate), a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, an amino acid, an amino sugar, a disaccharide alcohol and a salt, and is effective as an agricultural control composition against plant disease, particularly plant disease caused by fungi and plant disease caused by bacteria.

Abstract: To provide a composition for preventing periodontal diseases (prophylactic agent of periodontal diseases), the composition having an excellent cariostatic property, being safe and stable for prolonged use and having less effects on flavor. A non-cariogenic material prepared by blending a rare sugar in the D form as selected from the group consisting of D-psicose, D-sorbose and D-tagatose, a rare sugar in the L form as selected from L-fructose, L-psicose and L-tagatose, or allitol as a rare sugar derivative, singly or in combination. A cariostatic agent comprising D-psicose, D-sorbose, D-tagatose, L-fructose, L-psicose and/or L-tagatose. A cariostatic agent in combination with catechins.

Abstract: A lifespan extending agent that is safe for animals, and can easily be ingested in a form that resembles foods. A lifespan extending method is also disclosed. In the lifespan extending agent, a rare sugar usable as a sweetener is contained as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided is a composition that enhances the effects of monosaccharides. The composition is a composition comprising a monosaccharide as an active ingredient thereof and comprising at least one or more assistants selected from a nonionic surfactant (excluding acetylene glycol-based surfactants, fluorine-based surfactants and silicone-based surfactants), an anionic surfactant (excluding lignin sulfonate), a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, an amino acid, an amino sugar, a disaccharide alcohol and a salt, and is effective as an agricultural control composition against plant disease, particularly plant disease caused by fungi and plant disease caused by bacteria.